Image processing apparatus, screen display control method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes: a touch-enabled display that is capable of displaying a first screen and a second screen smaller than the first screen, the second screen showing information, the second screen to be expanded with a user sliding manipulation; a memory that stores reference information determining which information on the second screen is relevant and irrelevant to the first screen; a judgment portion that judges whether or not the information on the second screen is relevant to the first screen on the basis of the reference information stored on the memory; and a display controller that expands the second screen even without the sliding manipulation being completely finished if the information on the second screen is relevant to the first screen and that restores the second screen to the previous state upon finish of the sliding manipulation if the information on the second screen is irrelevant to the first screen.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2014-018016 filed on Jan. 31, 2014, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to: an image processing apparatus such asa multi-function peripheral (MFP), i.e., a multifunctional digital imageforming apparatus; a screen display control method to be implemented bythe image processing apparatus; and a non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium storing a screen display control program for the imageprocessing apparatus to implement the screen display control method.

2. Description of the Related Art

The following description sets forth the inventor' s knowledge ofrelated art and problems therein and should not be construed as anadmission of knowledge in the prior art.

There has been a well-known image processing apparatus that displays anoperation screen on a display of an operation panel with a belt-likestatus view area shown in the upper region of the operation screen, forexample. By sliding the status view area into the operation screen,users can expand the status view area in full-screen to see detailedinformation about the status of the image processing apparatus.

The users may finish the sliding manipulation after the finger passesover the center of the height of the operation screen; in such a case,the status view area can be expanded in full-screen by automaticsliding. The users may finish the sliding manipulation before the fingerreaches the center of the height of the operation screen; in such acase, the status view area can be restored to the previous state beforethe sliding manipulation.

Such a configuration has a problem to be described later.

Meanwhile, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-103602suggests an image processing apparatus having a user interface thatcontributes to the convenience by facilitating sliding an operationscreen into another screen. Specifically, the image processing apparatusis provided with: a screen display processor that displays a firstscreen on an operation panel; a sliding display processor that slides asecond screen into the first screen along a sliding path in response toa user operating the operation panel, the sliding path extending fromone end to another end of a display surface, the second screen having aplurality of operation keys residing at different positions on thesliding path; a sliding controller that stops the second screen inmotion in an event of a status change, the status change beingidentified as a predetermined condition; and an input processor thataccepts inputs from at least one of the operation keys, the at least oneoperation keys being displayed on the second screen. As soon as thesecond screen is even partially moved into the first screen on thesliding path, the image processing apparatus stops the second screen inmotion and enables the operation keys on the second screen, the secondscreen being left on the sliding path.

With this image processing apparatus, the status view area may provideimmediately needed information relevant to the presently displayed basescreen when it is expanded in full-screen and users may accidentallyrelease the finger from the display before the finger reaches the centerof the height of the operation screen. In such a case, the status viewarea is restored to the previous state before the sliding manipulation,which results in the users failing to obtain the immediately neededinformation and bothering to perform a sliding manipulation again. Thisis an unsolved problem.

More specifically, a user finds a toner empty sign on the status viewarea when setting the color mode to full-color via a color mode settingscreen, for example. The user slides the status view area into theoperation screen for the details and releases the finger from thedisplay accidentally before the finger reaches the center of the heightof the operation screen. The status view area is then restored to theprevious state without the user's intent; thus the user needs to performa sliding manipulation for the details again.

In another case, the status view area may provide less neededinformation irrelevant to the presently displayed base screen when it isexpanded in full-screen on the display and users may accidentallyrelease the finger from the display after the finger passes over thecenter of the height of the operation screen. In such a case, the statusview area is expanded in full-screen, which results in the usersbothering to see the details for nothing and address the situation. Thisalso is an unsolved problem.

More specifically, a user finds a network error sign on the status viewarea when setting the color mode to full-color via a color mode settingscreen, for example. The user slides the status view area into theoperation screen for the details but releases the finger from thedisplay accidentally after the finger passes over the center of theheight of the operation screen, noticing irrelevant information on thestatus view area. The status view area is then expanded in full-screenwithout the user's intent.

Thus the user needs to perform an extra manipulation for restoring theexpanded status view area to the previous state.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-103602 teaches reducingthe hand travel distance by stopping the status view area in motion,i.e., a technique for facilitating user manipulations, which apparentlyis not a solution to the above-described problems.

The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of variousfeatures, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in otherpublications is in no way intended to limit the present invention.Indeed, certain features of the invention may be capable of overcomingcertain disadvantages, while still retaining some or all of thefeatures, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention relates to an image processingapparatus including:

a touch-enabled display that is capable of displaying a first screen anda second screen smaller than the first screen, the second screen showinginformation, the second screen to be expanded with a user manipulationof sliding the second screen on the display;

a memory that stores reference information determining which informationon the second screen is relevant and irrelevant to the first screen;

a judgment portion that judges whether or not the information shown onthe second screen is relevant to the first screen on the basis of thereference information stored on the memory, the first screen and thesecond screen both being displayed on the display; and

a display controller that expands the second screen even without thesliding manipulation being completely finished if the judgment portionjudges that the information shown on the second screen is relevant tothe first screen and that restores the second screen to the previousstate before the sliding manipulation upon finish of the slidingmanipulation if the judgment portion judges that the information shownon the second screen is irrelevant to the first screen.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a screen displaycontrol method to be implemented by an image processing apparatus, theimage processing apparatus including:

a touch-enabled display that is capable of displaying a first screen anda second screen smaller than the first screen, the second screen showinginformation, the second screen to be expanded with a user manipulationof sliding the second screen on the display; and

a memory that stores reference information determining which informationshown on the second screen is relevant and irrelevant to the firstscreen, the screen display control method including:

judging whether or not the information shown on the second screen isrelevant to the first screen on the basis of the reference informationstored on the memory, the first screen and the second screen both beingdisplayed on the display; and

expanding the second screen even without the sliding manipulation beingcompletely finished if it is judged that the information shown on thesecond screen is relevant to the first screen and restoring the secondscreen to the previous state before the sliding manipulation upon finishof the sliding manipulation if it is judged that the information shownon the second screen is irrelevant to the first screen.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium storing a screen display controlprogram to be executed by a computer of an image processing apparatus,the image processing apparatus including:

a touch-enabled display that is capable of displaying a first screen anda second screen smaller than the first screen, the second screen showinginformation, the second screen to be expanded with a user manipulationof sliding the second screen on the display; and

a memory that stores reference information determining which informationshown on the second screen is relevant and irrelevant to the firstscreen, the screen display control program including:

judging whether or not the information shown on the second screen isrelevant to the first screen on the basis of the reference informationstored on the memory, the first screen and the second screen both beingdisplayed on the display; and

expanding the second screen even without the sliding manipulation beingcompletely finished if it is judged that the information shown on thesecond screen is relevant to the first screen and restoring the secondscreen to the previous state before the sliding manipulation upon finishof the sliding manipulation if it is judged that the information shownon the second screen is irrelevant to the first screen.

The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of variousembodiments will be further appreciated in view of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Variousembodiments can include and/or exclude different aspects, featuresand/or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments cancombine one or more aspect or feature of other embodiments whereapplicable. The descriptions of aspects, features and/or advantages ofparticular embodiments should not be construed as limiting otherembodiments or the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way ofexample, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an imageprocessing apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2A-C illustrate an example of a series of screens to be shown whena user slides a second screen into a first screen;

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate another example of a series of screens to be shownwhen a user slides a second screen into a first screen;

FIGS. 4A-C illustrate yet another example of a series of screens to beshown when a user slides a second screen into a first screen;

FIGS. 5A-C illustrate still yet another example of a series of screensto be shown when a user slides a second screen into a first screen;

FIG. 6 is a table containing reference information that determineswhether or not there is relevance between the first screen and thesecond screen; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representing an operation of the informationprocessing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following paragraphs, some preferred embodiments of the inventionwill be described by way of example and not limitation. It should beunderstood based on this disclosure that various other modifications canbe made by those in the art based on these illustrated embodiments.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an imageprocessing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, a MFP having various functions such as acopier function, a printer function, and a scanner function, asdescribed above, is employed as the image processing apparatus 1.

The image processing apparatus 1 is provided with: a CPU (controller)101; a ROM 102; a work memory 103; an image reader 104; an automaticdocument feeder (ADF) 105; an image processor 106; a printer 107; adisplay console 108; a non-volatile memory 109; a facsimile communicator110; a network communicator 111; a USB connector 112; and others.

The CPU 101 controls the entire image processing apparatus 1 in aunified and systematic manner, allowing users to use basic functions ofthe image processing apparatus 1 such as a copier function, a printerfunction, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. Specifically, inthis embodiment, the CPU 101 judges whether or not information on astatus view area (a second screen) is relevant to a base operationscreen (a first screen) displayed on the display console 108, on thebasis of reference information and performs a control operation when auser slides the status view area into the base screen, which will belater described in detail.

The RAM 102 is a memory that stores operation programs to be executed bythe CPU 101 and other data. The work memory 103 is a memory thatprovides a work area for the CPU 101 to perform processing in accordancewith an operation program stored on the ROM 102.

The image reader 104 converts physical images into digital by scanning adocument put on a platen (not shown in this figure) or sheets of adocument sequentially conveyed by the automatic document feeder 105 thatis also known as ADF.

The image processor 106 performs a predetermined image processingoperation on image data obtained by the image reader 104 and other data.The printer 107 prints the image data obtained by the image reader 104,print data received from user terminals, and other data, in a specifiedprint mode.

The display console 108 is comprised of a liquid-crystal display havinga touch-panel function; the display console 108 displays an operationscreen and also displays a message for users and the status of the imageprocessing apparatus 1 on the screen. The touch-panel function allowsusers to perform touch manipulations. The touch-panel function alsoallows them to perform gesture manipulations such as slidingmanipulations.

The non-volatile memory 109 is comprised of a non-volatile memory devicesuch as a hard disk drive (HDD). The non-volatile memory 109 storesimage data obtained by the image reader 104, data received from otherimage processing apparatuses and user terminals, various applications,and others.

The facsimile communicator 110 controls a facsimile performing datatransmission and receipt and the network communicator 111 performs datatransmission and receipt by controlling communication with externalapparatuses on the network such as other image processing apparatusesand user terminals.

The USB connector 112 serves to connect a USB device to the imageprocessing apparatus 1; via the USB connector 112, a portable recordingmedium such as a USB memory can be connected to the image processingapparatus 1.

When a user accesses a function of the image processing apparatus 1,such as a copier or facsimile function, the image processing apparatus 1displays an operation screen for the function on the display console108.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, when a user accesses a copierfunction, an operation screen 1080 a for copy job settings is displayedas a first screen on the display console 108 along with a belt-like,horizontally long and narrow status view area 1080 b being shown as asecond screen in the upper region of the screen. When there is a statuschange to the image processing apparatus 1, i.e., in an event of atrouble such as toner empty or internal error, an icon denoting thetrouble appears in the status view area 1080 b.

The user then touches the status view area 1080 b and slides it down tothe direction X with the finger as illustrated in FIG. 2A; with themotion of the finger, the status view area is gradually expandeddownward as illustrated in FIG. 2B. When the finger passes over thecenter of the height of the operation screen, a detailed informationscreen 1080 c, which corresponds to the status view area 1080 b infull-screen, is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 2C.

Here, it should be noted that the status view area 1080 b does notalways provide relevant information to the presently displayed operationscreen. Thus users may expand the status view area 1080 b in full-screenas illustrated in FIG. 2C only to see irrelevant information to thepresently displayed operation screen, which results in the usersbothering to perform an extra operation for restoring the status viewarea 1080 b to the previous state.

Users also may fail to expand the status view area 1080 b in full-screenbecause finishing the sliding manipulation (releasing the finger) beforethe finger travels a long enough distance, which results in the usersbothering to perform a sliding manipulation again.

As a solution to the problem, in this embodiment, if information on thestatus view area 1080 b is relevant to the operation screen 1080 a, itis expanded in full-screen even before the finger travels a long enoughdistance, and if information on the status view area 1080 b isirrelevant to the operation screen 1080 a, it is restored to theprevious state even after the finger travels a long enough distance.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, when a user accesses a copierfunction, the operation screen 1080 a for color mode settings isdisplayed with the status view area 1080 b shown in the operationscreen; and the user finds a warning icon 200 denoting toner empty inthe status view area 1080 b.

The user slides the status view area 1080 b into the operation screenfor the warning details and finishes the sliding manipulation before thefinger reaches the center of the height of the operation screen asillustrated in FIG. 2B.

Presently, the operation screen 1080 a is a screen for color modesettings of the copier function and the status view area 1080 b providestoner information; the information on the status view area 1080 b isapparently relevant to the operation screen 1080 a. Consequently, evenbefore the finger travels a long enough distance, the detailedinformation screen 1080 c, which corresponds to the status view area1080 b in full-screen, is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 2C.Similarly, as a matter of course, after the finger travels a long enoughdistance, the detailed information screen 1080 c, which corresponds tothe status view area 1080 b in full-screen, is displayed.

For another example, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, when a user accesses acopier function, an operation screen 1081 a for color mode settings isdisplayed with a status view area 1081 b shown in the operation screen;and the user finds a warning icon 201 denoting paper empty in the statusview area 1081 b.

The user slides the status view area 1081 b into the operation screenfor the warning details and finishes the sliding manipulation before thefinger reaches the center of the height of the operation screen asillustrated in FIG. 3B.

Presently, the operation screen 1081 a is a screen for color modesettings of the copier function and the status view area 1081 b providespaper information; the information on the status view area 1081 b isapparently relevant to the operation screen 1081 a. Consequently, evenbefore the finger travels a long enough distance, a detailed informationscreen 1081 c, which corresponds to the status view area 1081 b infull-screen, is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 3C.

Yet for another example, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, when a user accessesa copier function, an operation screen 1082 a for staple mode settingsis displayed with a status view area 1082 b shown in the operationscreen; and the user finds a warning icon 202 denoting staple empty inthe status view area 1082 b.

The user slides the status view area 1082 b into the operation screenfor the warning details and finishes the sliding manipulation before thefinger reaches the center of the height of the operation screen asillustrated in FIG. 4B.

Presently, the operation screen 1082 a is a screen for staple modesettings of the copier function and the status view area 1082 b providesstaple information; the information on the status view area 1082 b isapparently relevant to the operation screen 1082 b. Consequently, evenbefore the finger travels a long enough distance, a detailed informationscreen 1082 c, which corresponds to the status view area 1082 b infull-screen, is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 3C.

As described above, if information on the status view area is relevantto the presently displayed operation screen, it is expanded infull-screen even before the finger travels a long enough distance as itis after the finger travels a long enough distance, which contributes tothe convenience of the user.

Still yet for another example, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, when a useraccesses a copier function, an operation screen 1083 a for color modesettings is displayed with a status view area 1083 b shown in theoperation screen; and the user finds a warning icon 201 denoting networkerror in the status view area 1083 b.

The user slides the status view area 1083 b into the operation screenfor the warning details and finishes the sliding manipulation after thefinger passes over the center of the height of the operation screen asillustrated in FIG. 5B.

Presently, the operation screen 1083 a is a screen for color modesettings of the copier function and the status view area 1083 b providesnetwork information; the information on the status view area 1083 b isapparently irrelevant to the operation screen 1083 a. Consequently, evenafter the finger travels a long enough distance, the status view area1083 b is restored to the previous state before the sliding manipulationas illustrated in FIG. 5C: a detailed information screen is notdisplayed.

That is, user-friendliness is significantly improved since the user doesnot have to bother anymore to see the details for nothing or to performan extra manipulation for restoring the status view area to the previousstate.

Users having a specific authority such as an administrator authority forthe image processing apparatus 1 are allowed to set in advance rulesdetermining which information on the status view area is relevant andirrelevant to the operation screen and the rules are stored on arecording medium such as the non-volatile memory 109, as referenceinformation.

On the basis of the reference information, the CPU judges whether or notinformation on the status view area is relevant to the operation screen.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed example of reference information determiningwhether or not there is relevance as described in the examples of FIGS.2 to 5. According to the configuration of FIG. 6, an operation screenfor a copier function is relevant to events of toner near empty, wastetoner box near full, paper near empty, printer (PRT) error warning,image reader (IR) error warning, and other events; thus the status viewarea is automatically slid into such an operation screen when itdisplays the relevant information. Such an operation screen isirrelevant to events of mail server login error and timeout warning andother events; thus the status view area is automatically slid out of theoperation screen (restored to the previous state) when it displays theirrelevant information.

According to the configuration, an operation screen for a facsimilefunction and network scan function for transmitting image data obtainedby the imager reader 104 to a predetermined address through a fax lineand network (“FAX SCAN operation” in FIG. 6) is relevant to events offacsimile and network error and other events (in such a case, the statusview area is automatically slid into the operation screen). Such anoperation screen is irrelevant to events nothing about facsimile ornetwork scan function (in such a case, the status view area isautomatically slid out of the operation screen).

According to the configuration, an operation screen for a storage andprinter function for storing and printing image data obtained by theimage reader 104 onto and from a USB memory connected to the USBconnector 112 (“USB BOX operation” in FIG. 6) is relevant to an event ofUSB memory connection error (in such a case, the status view area isautomatically slid into the operation screen). Such an operation screenis irrelevant to events nothing about the storage or printer function(in such a case, the status view area is automatically slid out of theoperation screen).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representing an operation of the image processingapparatus 1 when a user slides the status view area into the operationscreen. The flowchart is executed by the CPU 101 in accordance with anoperation program stored on a recording medium such as the ROM 102.

In Step S701, it is judged whether or not a warning event occurs. If awarning event does not occur (No in Step S701), the routine continueswaiting until a warning event occurs. If a warning event occurs (YES inStep S701), the routine proceeds to Step S702. Upon detection of awarning event, a warning icon appears on the status view area.

In Step S702, it is detected that a user slides the status view areainto the operation screen; in Step S703, it is further detected that theuser does not completely finish the sliding manipulation by releasingthe finger from the display.

Subsequently, in Step S704, it is judged whether or not information onthe status view area (the second screen) is relevant to the operationscreen (the first screen) on the basis of reference information whoseexample is shown in FIG. 6. If it is relevant to the first screen (YESin Step S704), the second screen is expanded in full-screen by automaticsliding in Step 5705. If it is irrelevant to the first screen (NO inStep S704), the second screen is restored to the previous state byautomatic sliding in Step S706.

While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, anumber of illustrative embodiments are described herein with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered asproviding examples of the principles of the invention and such examplesare not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodimentsdescribed herein and/or illustrated herein.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferredembodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodimentshaving equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g.of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterationsas would be appreciated by those in the art based on the presentdisclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadlybased on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examplesdescribed in the present specification or during the prosecution of theapplication, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. Forexample, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” isnon-exclusive and means “preferably, but not limited to”. In thisdisclosure and during the prosecution of this application,means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only beemployed where for a specific claim limitation all of the followingconditions are present In that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for”is expressly recited; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited;and c) structure, material or acts that support that structure are notrecited. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of thisapplication, the terminology “present invention” or “invention” may beused as a reference to one or more aspect within the present disclosure.The language present invention or invention should not be improperlyinterpreted as an identification of criticality, should not beimproperly interpreted as applying across all aspects or embodiments(i.e., it should be understood that the present invention has a numberof aspects and embodiments), and should not be improperly interpreted aslimiting the scope of the application or claims. In this disclosure andduring the prosecution of this application, the terminology “embodiment”can be used to describe any aspect, feature, process or step, anycombination thereof, and/or any portion thereof, etc. In some examples,various embodiments may include overlapping features. In this disclosureand during the prosecution of this case, the following abbreviatedterminology may be employed: “e.g.” which means “for example”, and “NB”which means “note well”.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: atouch-enabled display that is capable of displaying a first screen and asecond screen smaller than the first screen, the second screen showinginformation, the second screen to be expanded with a user manipulationof sliding the second screen on the display; a memory that storesreference information determining which information on the second screenis relevant and irrelevant to the first screen; a judgment portion thatjudges whether or not the information shown on the second screen isrelevant to the first screen on the basis of the reference informationstored on the memory, the first screen and the second screen both beingdisplayed on the display; and a display controller that expands thesecond screen even without the sliding manipulation being completelyfinished if the judgment portion judges that the information shown onthe second screen is relevant to the first screen and that restores thesecond screen to the previous state before the sliding manipulation uponfinish of the sliding manipulation if the judgment portion judges thatthe information shown on the second screen is irrelevant to the firstscreen.
 2. The image processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, havinga copier function, wherein the judgment portion judges that theinformation shown on the second screen is relevant to the first screenwhen the second screen shows information of toner while the first screenallows settings for the copier function and that the information shownon the second screen is irrelevant to the first screen when the secondscreen does not show information of toner while the first screen allowssettings for the copier function.
 3. The image processing apparatus asrecited in claim 1, having a network scan function, the network scanfunction for transmitting image data obtained by document scanning to aspecified address through a network, wherein the judgment portion judgesthat the information shown on the second screen is relevant to the firstscreen when the second screen shows information of network error whilethe first screen allows settings for the network scan function and thatthe information shown on the second screen is irrelevant to the firstscreen when the second screen does not show information related to thenetwork scan function while the first screen allows settings for thenetwork scan function.
 4. The image processing apparatus as recited inclaim 1, having a facsimile function, wherein the judgment portionjudges that the information shown on the second screen is relevant tothe first screen when the second screen shows information of facsimilecommunication error while the first screen allows settings for thefacsimile function and that the information shown on the second screenis irrelevant to the first screen when the second screen does not showinformation related to the facsimile function while the first screenallows settings for the facsimile function.
 5. The image processingapparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connector thatconnects the image processing apparatus to a portable recording medium,the image processing apparatus having either or both of: a storagefunction for storing image data obtained by document scanning on theportable recording medium; and a printer function for printing data fromthe portable recording medium, wherein the judgment portion judges thatthe information shown on the second screen is relevant to the firstscreen when the second screen shows information of connection error tothe portable recording medium while the first screen allows settings forthe storage or printer function and that the information shown on thesecond screen is irrelevant to the first screen when the second screendoes not show information related to the storage or printer functionwhile the first screen allows settings for the storage or printerfunction.
 6. A screen display control method to be implemented by animage processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising: atouch-enabled display that is capable of displaying a first screen and asecond screen smaller than the first screen, the second screen showinginformation, the second screen to be expanded with a user manipulationof sliding the second screen on the display; and a memory that storesreference information determining which information shown on the secondscreen is relevant and irrelevant to the first screen, the screendisplay control method comprising: judging whether or not theinformation shown on the second screen is relevant to the first screenon the basis of the reference information stored on the memory, thefirst screen and the second screen both being displayed on the display;and expanding the second screen even without the sliding manipulationbeing completely finished if it is judged that the information shown onthe second screen is relevant to the first screen and restoring thesecond screen to the previous state before the sliding manipulation uponfinish of the sliding manipulation if it is judged that the informationshown on the second screen is irrelevant to the first screen.
 7. Thescreen display control method as recited in claim 6, wherein the imageprocessing apparatus has a copier function, the screen display controlmethod further comprising the step of judging that the information shownon the second screen is relevant to the first screen when the secondscreen shows information of toner while the first screen allows settingsfor the copier function and that the information shown on the secondscreen is irrelevant to the first screen when the second screen does notshow information of toner while the first screen allows settings for thecopier function.
 8. The screen display control method as recited inclaim 6, wherein the image processing apparatus has a network scanfunction, the network scan function for transmitting image data obtainedby document scanning to a specified address through a network, thescreen display control method further comprising the step of judgingthat the information shown on the second screen is relevant to the firstscreen when the second screen shows information of network error whilethe first screen allows settings for the network scan function and thatthe information shown on the second screen is irrelevant to the firstscreen when the second screen does not show information related to thenetwork scan function while the first screen allows settings for thenetwork scan function.
 9. The screen display control method as recitedin claim 6, wherein the image processing apparatus has a facsimilefunction, the screen display control method further comprising the stepof judging that the information shown on the second screen is relevantto the first screen when the second screen shows information offacsimile communication error while the first screen allows settings forthe facsimile function and that the information shown on the secondscreen is irrelevant to the first screen when the second screen does notshow information related to the facsimile function while the firstscreen allows settings for the facsimile function.
 10. The screendisplay control method as recited in claim 6, wherein the imageprocessing apparatus further comprises a connector that connects theimage processing apparatus to a portable recording medium, the imageprocessing apparatus having either or both of: a storage function forstoring image data obtained by document scanning on the portablerecording medium; and a printer function for printing data from theportable recording medium, the screen display control method furthercomprising the step of judging that the information shown on the secondscreen is relevant to the first screen when the second screen showsinformation of connection error to the portable recording medium whilethe first screen allows settings for the storage or printer function andthat the information shown on the second screen is irrelevant to thefirst screen when the second screen does not show information related tothe storage or printer function while the first screen allows settingsfor the storage or printer function.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium storing a screen display controlprogram to be executed by a computer of an image processing apparatus,the image processing apparatus comprising: a touch-enabled display thatis capable of displaying a first screen and a second screen smaller thanthe first screen, the second screen showing information, the secondscreen to be expanded with a user manipulation of sliding the secondscreen on the display; and a memory that stores reference informationdetermining which information shown on the second screen is relevant andirrelevant to the first screen, the screen display control programcomprising: judging whether or not the information shown on the secondscreen is relevant to the first screen on the basis of the referenceinformation stored on the memory, the first screen and the second screenboth being displayed on the display; and expanding the second screeneven without the sliding manipulation being completely finished if it isjudged that the information shown on the second screen is relevant tothe first screen and restoring the second screen to the previous statebefore the sliding manipulation upon finish of the sliding manipulationif it is judged that the information shown on the second screen isirrelevant to the first screen.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium storing the screen display control program to beexecuted by the computer of the image processing apparatus as recited inclaim 11, the image processing apparatus having a copier function,wherein, in accordance with the screen display control program, thecomputer judges that the information shown on the second screen isrelevant to the first screen when the second screen shows information oftoner while the first screen allows settings for the copier function andthat the information shown on the second screen is irrelevant to thefirst screen when the second screen does not show information of tonerwhile the first screen allows settings for the copier function.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the screendisplay control program to be executed by the computer of the imageprocessing apparatus as recited in claim 11, the image processingapparatus having a network scan function, the network scan function fortransmitting image data obtained by document scanning to a specifiedaddress through a network, wherein, in accordance with the screendisplay control program, the computer judges that the information shownon the second screen is relevant to the first screen when the secondscreen shows information of network error while the first screen allowssettings for the network scan function and that the information shown onthe second screen is irrelevant to the first screen when the secondscreen does not show information related to the network scan functionwhile the first screen allows settings for the network scan function.14. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing thescreen display control program to be executed by the computer of theimage processing apparatus as recited in claim 11, the image processingapparatus having a facsimile function, wherein, in accordance with thescreen display control program, the computer judges that the informationshown on the second screen is relevant to the first screen when thesecond screen shows information of facsimile communication error whilethe first screen allows settings for the facsimile function and that theinformation shown on the second screen is irrelevant to the first screenwhen the second screen does not show information related to thefacsimile function while the first screen allows settings for thefacsimile function.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium storing the screen display control program to be executed by thecomputer of the image processing apparatus as recited in claim 11, theimage processing apparatus further comprising a connector that connectsthe image processing apparatus to a portable recording medium, the imageprocessing apparatus having either or both of: a storage function forstoring image data obtained by document scanning on the portablerecording medium; and a printer function for printing data from theportable recording medium, wherein, in accordance with the screendisplay control program, the computer judges that the information shownon the second screen is relevant to the first screen when the secondscreen shows information of connection error to the portable recordingmedium while the first screen allows settings for the storage or printerfunction and that the information shown on the second screen isirrelevant to the first screen when the second screen does not showinformation of the storage or printer function while the first screenallows settings for the storage or printer function.